Independent Review of MSHA's Actions at Crandall Canyon Mine

Labor sent additional satellite phones for use, but these phones did not work because the
corresponding satellite was no longer in service. Additional satellite phones had to be
purchased during the rescue operation. Even with operable satellite phones, communication
was difficult from borehole drill sites to the command center. The satellite phones would only
operate from certain locations on the mountain where the boreholes were located. The person
providing hourly updates had to travel to each borehole site to obtain information, and then
go to the right location to obtain a signal in order to contact the command center.
Conclusion: Some of MSHA’s mine emergency equipment is outdated or in a bad state of
repair.
Regularly scheduled field tests are not being conducted due to budgetary constraints.
Locations of caches and equipment listed are not readily available in MSHA documentation.
Recommendation: MSHA should evaluate and update, as needed, the mine emergency
equipment. The seismic location system should be modernized, which was also identified in
the internal review report for the Sago Mine explosion.
Equipment should be field tested, and documented, on a regularly scheduled basis to ensure
its readiness and usability during an emergency.
Location of equipment caches should be listed in the Headquarters and Districts Mine
Emergency Response handbooks. This cached equipment should be tested regularly, with
results documented.
MEO Information
Mine Emergency Operations Telephone Book
This book lists MSHA personnel to contact in the event of an emergency. The website states
that the book will be updated semi-annually. However, at the time of the IRT review, the
posted update was 1/17/07, or over one year since it was last updated, and many of the
names, titles, and contact information were incorrect.
Headquarters Mine Emergency Procedure Handbook
The handbook posted on the website at the time of the August 6, 2007, accident was last
updated in 1999. Many persons listed as emergency contacts, both in Headquarters and the
district offices, were no longer employed by MSHA or were in different positions within the
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